Tewkesbury

Police warning over telephone scam

POLICE are warning people in West Mercia to be vigilant about a scam in which callers claiming to be bank officials or officers from the Metropolitan Police attempt to trick residents into handing over their money.

Scammers recently tricked an 89-year-old woman from Warwickshire into transferring nearly £100,000 from her bank account after she was told there was a problem with her account.

Detective Chief Insepector Sean Paley from Warwickshire and West Mercia Police called the scam “callous”.

“Whilst people are generally aware of such scams, these criminals target vulnerable members of the community,” he said.

“I would urge people to talk to close friends and relatives who they think could be at risk.”

Residents are reminded to be wary of calls out of the blue and to never give out personal details over the telephone unless they are entirely sure the caller is genuine.

Any suspicious calls can be reported to police on 101, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.